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WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense today approved by voice vote its fiscal year 2020 bill. In total, the bill provides $690.2 billion in new discretionary spending authority for the Department of Defense for functions under the Defense Subcommittee’s jurisdiction, an increase of $15.8 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level, and $8 billion below the President’s budget request. The bill next heads to the full Committee for markup.

“The Subcommittee has sought throughout this legislative process to keep in mind the morale and the quality of life of all of our service members and their families. I believe we have taken tangible steps in this bill to refocus much-deserved attention on their issues of concern,” said House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Chairman Pete Visclosky. “The legislation also aims to ensure that all personnel under its jurisdiction are able to be as safe, efficient, and effective as possible in their efforts to defend our nation. The Subcommittee also protects and asserts the constitutional prerogatives of Congress so that funds appropriated are only to be spent on designated and authorized purposes. It is certainly the intent of the Subcommittee to see that this legislation is signed into law prior to the start of Fiscal Year 2020.”

“National defense is of paramount importance, and our committee’s commitment to securing American interests at home and abroad should transcend party lines. The world becomes more dangerous each day, and we must be united to ensure our armed services have the equipment, training, and resources to succeed at every level,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey. “This bill makes important investments in the well-being of our service members and their families, in readiness requirements, and in the health of our military through a significant increase in medical research funding. The bill would also prohibit the use of funds for President Trump’s wasteful border wall, reserving DOD resources to protect the United States from actual threats, rather than those imagined by the President.”